Cap for beverage container

ABSTRACT

A cap assembly is provided for a beverage container for withdrawing fluid from the beverage container. The cap assembly has a cap that is connected to the beverage container, a first tube connected to the cap to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container, and a second tube connected to the cap to transfer fluid out of the beverage container. The cap has an end wall and a cylindrical sidewall extending from the end wall to define a cap cavity. The cap cavity has female threads adapted to receive mating male threads of the beverage container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/745,010, filed Dec. 21, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made a part hereof.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a cap assembly for a beverage container used in conjunction with a beverage dispenser, and more specifically to a cap assembly for a beverage container used in conjunction with a beverage dispensing assembly for dispensing mixed beverages.

BACKGROUND

Beverage dispensers are well known in the art. While such dispensers according to the prior art provide a number of advantages, they nevertheless have certain limitations. In order to obtain the contents from bottles or other beverage containers, pressurized gas is supplied to the bottle to displace liquid into the dispenser. A bottle cap is inserted into an opening disposed proximate to a top surface of the bottle. The bottle cap must form a seal to prevent fluid from inadvertently exiting the bottle and to maintain pressure in the bottle, but also must allow tubing for the beverage dispenser to enter the bottle, and allow pressurized gas to enter the bottle. Current bottle caps for beverage dispensing assemblies have certain limitations, and the present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, the disclosed subject technology relates to a cap assembly for a beverage container. In one embodiment the cap assembly has a cap engageable with the beverage container, the cap having an end wall, a cylindrical sidewall extending from the end wall, and a first and second cap aperture in the end wall, the cap apertures having a first and second opening. The end wall and sidewall have interior surfaces that define a cap cavity. The cap cavity has female threads adapted to receive mating male threads of the beverage container. The cap cavity also has a seal positioned inside it. In one embodiment, the first opening of the first and second cap apertures are located adjacent an exterior surface of the end wall and the second opening of the first and second cap apertures are located adjacent the interior surface of the end wall and within the cap cavity.

In another embodiment the disclosed subject technology further relates to a first and second fitting within the first and second cap aperture, respectively, the first and second fitting having a first end that protrudes from the end wall of the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity. In one embodiment, the first and second fittings are sealingly connected to the cap to prevent fluid from escaping between the first and second apertures and the first and second fittings.

In another embodiment the disclosed subject technology further relates to a first tube connected to the first end of the first fitting and adapted to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container, a second tube connected to the first end of the second fitting and adapted to transfer fluid out of the beverage container, and a third tube connected to the second end of the second fitting, the third tube having a distal end positioned within the beverage container and adapted to transfer fluid from the beverage container to the second tube.

In another embodiment the disclosed subject technology further relates to a first tube extending from the first cap aperture to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container, the first tube operably connected to the first opening of the first cap aperture, and a second tube extending from the second cap aperture, the second tube having a distal end positioned within the beverage container and adapted to transfer fluid out of the beverage container. In one embodiment, the second tube is operably connected to the first opening of the second aperture, and further has a dip tube extending into the beverage container from the second opening of the second aperture.

In another embodiment the disclosed subject technology further relates to a first cap aperture adapted to sealingly receive a first fitting and a second cap aperture adapted to sealingly receive a second fitting, the first and second fittings having a first end that protrudes from the end wall of the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity, the first tube connected to the first end of the first fitting, and the second tube connected to the first end of the second fitting.

In yet another embodiment the disclosed subject technology further relates to a cap with a first and second cap aperture, a first fitting within the first cap aperture, a second fitting within the second cap aperture, a first tube connected to the first fitting to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container, and a second tube connected to the second fitting and adapted to transfer fluid out of the beverage container, the second tube having a distal end positioned within the beverage container. In one embodiment, a dip tube extends into the beverage container, the dip tube adapted to connect to the second fitting.

It is understood that other embodiments and configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present disclosure, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the disclosures are illustrated and, together with the descriptions below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cap assembly disposed within a beverage container for use with a beverage dispenser according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the threaded portion of the cap assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The various examples disclosed herein relate to systems, methods, and equipment that may be used to create and dispense mixed beverages.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a cap assembly or bottle cap assembly 10 for engagement with a bottle or beverage container 12. In one embodiment, the bottle cap assembly 10 includes a cap 14, a fitting portion 18, and a tube portion 22. The cap 14 is generally cylindrical and includes an end wall 26, a sidewall 28 extending from the end wall 26, and a distal end portion 30 of the sidewall 28. The end wall 26 includes an interior surface 25 and an exterior surface 27. The end wall 26 further includes a first cap aperture 34 positioned adjacent a second cap aperture 38. The first and second cap apertures 34, 38 each have a first opening 35, 39 and a second opening 36, 40. As best seen in FIG. 3, the distal end portion 30 of the sidewall 28 defines a cap cavity 41 having female threads 42 adapted to receive mating male threads 13 located on the opening 11 of a bottle 12. Alternatively, a variety of other known mating mechanisms may be used to join the cap 14 to the bottle 12. The cap cavity 41 further includes an internal seal 44 at its inner end to form a generally fluid tight seal in use. It is contemplated that the cap 14 and the seal 44 may comprise different materials. For example, the seal 44 may comprise an elastomeric material, such as silicone, while the cap 14 may comprise a generally rigid material, including polymeric materials, such as polyoxymethylene (commonly referred to as POM and also known as acetal, polyacetal or polyformaldehyde, or DELRIN®).

In the illustrated embodiment, the fitting portion 18 includes a first fitting 46 received by the first cap aperture 34 and a second fitting 50 received by the second cap aperture 38. Each fitting 46, 50 includes a top or first end 47, 51 that protrudes from the end wall 26 of the cap 14 and a bottom or second end 48, 52 that extends into the cap cavity 41 and through the seal 44 of the cap 14. The fittings 46, 50 are sealingly connected to the cap 14 to prevent fluid from escaping between the first and second cap apertures 34, 38 and the first and second fittings 46, 50.

The tube portion 22 includes a first tube or pressure supply tube 54, a second tube or a valve supply tube 62, and a third tube or dip tube 58. The pressure supply tube 54 is received by the top end 47 of the first fitting 46 on one end and a pressure supply source, such as a tank (not shown), on the other end. The pressure supply tube 54 provides a pressurized gas, such as carbon dioxide, to the contents of the beverage container 12. The dip tube 58 is received by the bottom end 52 of the second fitting 50 and has a distal end 59 that extends down toward the bottom of the bottle 12. The valve supply tube 62 is received by the top end 51 of the second fitting 50 on one end and is attached to a beverage dispensing system with a valve (not shown) on the other end. Alternatively, the valve supply tube 62 and the dip tube 58 may be combined into a single tube. The tubes 54, 58, 62 are sized to correspond to the openings of the fittings 46, 50 to prevent a concentric void so that fluid cannot exit from these connections.

To install this embodiment of the bottle cap assembly 10, the cap cavity 41 is placed onto the existing mating male threads 13 disposed on the bottle opening 11 proximate the top surface of the bottle 12 and a rotational force is applied to the cap 14 in the direction of the bottle 12. This force allows the mating male threads 13 to engage the female threads 42 of the cap cavity 41 and tighten the cap 14 to the bottle 12, such that the bottle opening 11 is partially disposed within the cap cavity 41. When tightened sufficiently, the top surface of the bottle opening 11 engages the seal 44 and creates a fluid tight seal between the cap 14 and the bottle 12.

Once the bottle cap assembly 10 is installed, pressurized gas, such as carbon dioxide, is supplied to the bottle 12 through the pressure supply tube 54 and first fitting 46 to maintain a constant pressure on the contents of the bottle 12. When it becomes necessary to dispense the contents of the bottle 12, pressurized gas is supplied to the cavity of the beverage container 12 through the pressure supply tube 54 and a valve on a beverage dispensing system (not shown) in-line with the valve supply tube 62 is opened. By supplying pressurized gas into the bottle 12 and opening a valve in-line with the valve supply tube 62, pressure inside the bottle 12 forces the liquid contents inside the bottle 12 up into the dip tube 58, through the second fitting 50, and through the valve supply tube 62 to the beverage dispensing system. The pressurized gas is controlled to supply only as much pressure as needed to force the contents from the bottle 12 into the tubes 58, 62 and to the beverage dispenser. To stop the flow of liquid contents from the beverage dispenser, the valve in-line with the valve supply tube 62 is closed and the supply of pressurized gas to the bottle cavity from the pressure supply tube 54 may be reduced or shut off entirely. Alternatively, a one-way valve may be used in either the first fitting 46 or pressure supply tube 54 to allow pressurized gas from the pressure supply tube 54 into the beverage container 12 and prohibit the liquid contents of the bottle 12 from entering the pressure supply tube 54.

In order to remove this embodiment of the bottle cap assembly 10, a rotational force opposite the direction used to install the bottle cap assembly 10 is applied to the cap 14. This force disengages the mating male threads 13 from the female threads 42 of the cap cavity 41 and allows the cap 14 to move away from the bottle 12. Once the cap 14 is sufficiently loosened and the bottle opening 11 is no longer partially disposed within the cap cavity 41, the bottle cap assembly 10 may be removed from the bottle 12.

Several alternative examples have been described and illustrated herein and several further alternate examples would be known to those of skill in the art based on the description herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the examples could be provided in any combination with the other examples disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term “plurality” as used herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Additionally, the word “including” as used herein is utilized in an open-ended manner.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cap assembly for a beverage container, the cap assembly comprising: a cap engageable with the beverage container, the cap having an end wall, a cylindrical sidewall extending from the end wall, a first cap aperture in the end wall having a first opening and a second opening, a second cap aperture in the end wall having a first opening and a second opening, an interior surface of the end wall and sidewall defining a cap cavity, the cap cavity having female threads adapted to receive mating male threads of the beverage container; a seal positioned within the cap cavity; a first fitting within the first cap aperture, the first fitting having a first end that protrudes from the end wall of the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity; a second fitting within the second cap aperture, the second fitting having a first end that protrudes from the end wall of the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity; a first tube connected to the first end of the first fitting and adapted to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container; a second tube connected to the first end of the second fitting and adapted to transfer fluid out of the beverage container; and, a third tube connected to the second end of the second fitting, the third tube having a distal end positioned within the beverage container and adapted to transfer fluid from the beverage container to the second tube.
 2. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the first opening of the first and second cap apertures are located adjacent an exterior surface of the end wall and the second opening of the first and second cap apertures are located adjacent the interior surface of the end wall and within the cap cavity.
 3. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a generally rigid material.
 4. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a polymeric material.
 5. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material.
 6. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second fittings are sealingly connected to the cap to prevent fluid from escaping between the first and second aperture and the first and second fittings.
 7. A cap assembly for a beverage container, the cap assembly comprising: a cap engageable with the beverage container, the cap having an end wall, a cylindrical sidewall extending from the end wall, a first cap aperture in the end wall having a first opening and a second opening, a second cap aperture in the end wall having a first opening and a second opening, an interior surface of the end wall and sidewall defining a cap cavity, the cap cavity having female threads adapted to receive mating male threads of the beverage container; a seal positioned within the cap cavity; a first tube extending from the first cap aperture to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container; and a second tube extending from the second cap aperture, the second tube having a distal end positioned within the beverage container and adapted to transfer fluid out of the beverage container.
 8. The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the first tube is operably connected to the first opening of the first cap aperture.
 9. The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the second tube is operably connected to the first opening of the second aperture, and further comprising a dip tube extending into the beverage container from the second opening of the second aperture.
 10. The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the first cap aperture is adapted to sealingly receive a first fitting and the second cap aperture is adapted to sealingly receive a second fitting, the first and second fittings having a first end that protrudes from the end wall of the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity, the first tube connected to the first end of the first fitting, and the second tube connected to the first end of the second fitting.
 11. The cap assembly of claim 10, further comprising a dip tube extending into the beverage container, the dip tube being connected to the second end of the second fitting.
 12. The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the cap comprises a polymeric material.
 13. The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material.
 14. A cap assembly for a beverage container, the cap assembly comprising: a cap engageable with the beverage container, the cap having an end wall, a sidewall extending from the end wall, a first cap aperture in the cap and having a first opening and a second opening, a second cap aperture in the cap and having a first opening and a second opening, an interior surface of the end wall and sidewall defining a cap cavity, the cap cavity having female threads adapted to receive mating male threads of the beverage container; a first fitting within the first cap aperture; a second fitting within the second cap aperture; a first tube connected to the first fitting to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container; and a second tube connected to the second fitting, and adapted to transfer fluid out of the beverage container.
 15. The cap assembly of claim 14, wherein the second tube has a distal end positioned within the beverage container.
 16. The cap assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second fittings having a first end that protrudes from the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity, the first tube connected to the first end of the first fitting, and the second tube connected to the first end of the second fitting.
 17. The cap assembly of claim 16, further comprising a dip tube extending into the beverage container, the dip tube adapted to connect to the second end of the second fitting.
 18. The cap assembly of claim 14, wherein the cap comprises a generally rigid material.
 19. The cap assembly of claim 14, wherein the cap comprises a polymeric material.
 20. The cap assembly of claim 14, further comprising a seal positioned within the cap cavity. 